Retired tennis icon Serena Williams, 42, has expressed frustration after she and her children were allegedly denied access to a restaurant at the Peninsula Paris, a luxury hotel, during the 2024 Olympics.
The incident occurred while Williams was in the French capital, where she had participated as a torchbearer for the Games and was seen supporting Team USA’s gymnastics team during their final on July 30, alongside celebrities like Natalie Portman and Nicole Kidman.
Williams took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to share her experience, stating:
“Yikes @peninsulaparis I’ve been denied access to rooftop to eat in an empty restaurant of nicer places but never with my kids.”
The post, which included frowning emojis, indicated that this was a new and unpleasant experience for her.
The former world No. 1 and 23-time Grand Slam champion did not specify whether her husband, Alexis Ohanian, was present at the time. Williams shares two young daughters, Adira and Olympia, with Ohanian.
Following her post, social media users rallied in support of Williams, condemning the alleged incident and expressing their disappointment.
The Peninsula Paris, formerly known as Hotel Majestic, is a historic luxury hotel known for its opulent accommodations and fine dining.
The hotel’s response to the incident is as follows:
“Dear Mrs. Williams, Please accept our deepest apologies for the disappointment you encountered tonight. Unfortunately, our rooftop bar was indeed fully booked and the only unoccupied tables you saw belonged to our gourmet restaurant, L’Oiseau Blanc, which was fully reserved.”
As a prominent figure in sports and a vocal advocate for equality and inclusion, Williams’ experience has sparked discussions about treatment and access, particularly for high-profile individuals and their families.
